Fifa Dangles Axe Over Nigeria Football Federation

Nigeria risks FIFA sanctions if the the latest legal tussle between former President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Sam Sam Jaja and the Nigeria Football Federation continues, the world football governing body has warned.

Reacting to the unfolding scenario, which has seen a civil court declare the boards of the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria Premier League illegal, FIFA warned that the process was a clear violation of its statutes and those of the NFF as regards dispute resolution among its affiliates.

In a terse letter dated 24 January, 2012 and signed by its deputy Secretary General, Markus Kattner which was addressed to the NFF scribe, Musa Adamu, the global body frowned at the frequent court cases against the NFF and said, “We would like to remind you that Article 64 of the FIFA statutes and Article 69 paragraph 1 of the NFF statutes prohibit recourse to ordinary court of law.”

The letter further states that “FIFA member associations have to ensure that their own members comply with the FIFA statutes,” adding, “we also take this opportunity to express our perplexity with regard to the recurrence of cases related to football brought before ordinary courts in Nigeria.”

On the case instituted by the former Nigeria referees boss, Sam Sam Jaja which the NFF said it was appealing against, FIFA warned, “any implementation of awards would be perceived as interference and subject to potential sanctions.”